Image copyrightRowley'sImage caption
The spray-painted cardboard artwork was used in the 2003 anti-war protests in London

A flimsy cardboard anti-war placard claimed to be by the street artist Banksy is to go under the hammer.

The piece - depicting a young girl clutching a bomb - is said to be one of dozens made for a protest against the Iraq War in 2003.

It had been kept in a flat by a protester until 2016, when it was sold to its current owner.

The auction house in Newmarket expects the placard to fetch up to £15,000 on Wednesday.

Banksy created a number of different signs for the 2003 London protest but few originals have survived because they were either discarded in the street or confiscated by the Metropolitan Police.

Will Axon, senior auctioneer at Rowley's said: "It is one of those rare occasions when you can genuinely call a picture iconic, the fact that this image is on a rather fragile piece of creased cardboard just adds to it.

"Banksy adeptly captured the anti-war sentiment in this image.

"Although his work has transcended from the street it hasn't lost its edge - his images are powerful and memorable - his work manages to do what all great artwork should - he makes us think."

Pest Control, which is responsible for authenticating works by Banksy, is quoted on the auction listing as saying it could not issue a certificate of authentication for work deemed as "street-art".